Sabine needed to find her daughter right way. She could force Kaia to give him back. That wouldn’t be a problem.
But why? Why would her ungrateful, weak-willed daughter steal from her own mother? What had Sabine ever done to make Kaia act so horribly?
Allowing herself to shed a tear and revel in the drama, she snickered, wiped her eye of its one tear, and made a few phone calls. Covering her ass and sure she could use something the vampire had been good for, she magically called out to Paz.
“Darling, I forgot to mention something I think you’ll want to hear,” she said when he answered.
“Oh?”
Sabine twirled a strand of white hair around her finger and smiled. “Have you ever heard of Ambrogio and the lost Bloode Stones? Because I’ve got a lead on something you’re going to find very interesting.”
* * *
Orion and Kaiaspent the next few days in a perfect state of happiness. With no one to interfere or distract them from each other, they were able to walk and talk, swim to their hearts’ content, and best of all, explore each other’s bodies.
Orion didn’t understand why he’d been avoidant of relationships for so long. He’d always wanted a mate, yes, but he couldn’t imagine ever wanting Kaia to leave, the way his father had forced his mother to go. Everything about his sea nymph pleased him. Her laugh, her sense of humor, her looks, and by all the demons in hell,her body.
If she hadn’t been so adamant about no sex, he’d have considered this time absolutely perfect. Hell, they’d been communicating telepathically for days and she hadn’t realized, so in tune with him that their communication seemed natural. But he’d been sending her thoughts and receiving hers, like true mates did, ever since Saturday.
If only she’d worry less about his state of mind and more about her own desire. He knew she wanted all of him, and he wanted nothing more than to be the one to show her every pleasure of the flesh. But she got so agitated at thoughts of harming him without meaning to that the sexual desire turned into a fearful thing, and that he didn’t like.
They’d been pretty creative, and he’d been having the best time getting her naked in all manner of places. Though they hadn’t yet played in the water. He’d been saving that one, as it meant something more to share affection and bodies within their element, a more binding process than Kaia would be comfortable with. Water gave life, and he and she might very wellmakelife if they fucked in the water.
The thought made him hard, and he worked to will away his erection since they were supposed to be playing cards together. Not naked, but hey, he wouldn’t bet against the idea that at some point before dawn, she’d be on her back, her fists tangled in his hair while he ate her out until she screamed.
My nymph is a screamer.
He grinned, loving the flush on her cheeks, especially because she hadn’t caught on to his one-sided telepathy yet.
“So why cat pajamas?” she asked as she picked up a card, stared at her hand, and discarded a different card. “I doubt your Smoky is going to like them. Cats are finicky.”
They’d spent part of the previous evening watching a shopping network on television.
He chuckled. “I know, but it’s payback for him waking me up before sunset. Especially when he has a full bowl of food.”
“I guess that makes a kind of vampire sense. Revenge on a kitten.” She chuckled. “I really want to meet him and his brother, Nightmare. First of all, great names. Secondly, how the heck is your kitty’s brother finding venomous centipedes and scorpions? And thirdly, how is he not dead after dumping said toxic creatures in your shoes?”
He grimaced and drew his own card, pleased at what he’d picked. “I wish I knew. He’s fast too. I can never catch the little sucker.” He put a card down.
“Are you sure it’s not your kin messing with you?” She took her turn. “From what you’ve described, that sounds like it could be Rolf tricking you.”
“Well, he’s immature enough, yeah.” He grunted, recalling the last prank the blond vampire—who had a few hundred years on Orion—had committed. The draugr had replaced Orion’s toilet paper with a roll of duct tape covered with one sheet of paper, making for an awkward stay in the bathroom. Because yes, vampiresdiduse the facilities. He picked up another card and discarded one he’d been saving for a run.
“Or maybe Kraft?” She smiled and called “gin.”
They both put their cards down, and he wasn’t surprised to see she’d won again. “Damn, girl. You’re a real cardshark.Ha, see what I did there? Not card sharp. Card shark.”
She rolled her eyes. Since becoming intimate, she’d let down her guard and now gave back as good as she got. He loved her wit, always loving and funny, but sometimes with an unexpected bite that never failed to make him laugh.
He sensed that she was thirsty and called a time out. After making them both mugs of cocoa, he sat down again. Then immediately got up to bring her marshmallows.No wonder she’s so sweet. It’s all that damn sugar she ingests.
She laughed. “Okay, that was funny.”
Once again, sharing a brain. He saw that as a positive, that she was truly his mate, spell or no spell. He had never heard of a witch interfering in a vampire’s mating, and he didn’t think it possible. Maybe when Macy returned, he might persuade her to convince Kaia they were okay. Then they could get started making a baby.
And after Kaia gave birth, she’d have to stay with him. Together, they’d find a place in the Night Bloode. If that didn’t work, they’d go rogue and find a place to live together by the water somewhere.
“You are so sweet to me,” she said with a chocolate mustache.
